Insulating structure and method of producing same



Oct. 11, 1960 R. BLoMEL-:Y ETAL 2,955,686

INSULATING STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME Filed July 2s. 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet'I 1 INVENTORS Ralph Blomeley Harold H.B|ome|ey by #Mumia/w ATTORNEY Oct. 1l, 1960 R. BLQMELEY ETAL 2,955,686

INSULATING STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 23, 1957 FIG.3

. y@ 5 www Tm N Nelmv R EmB o Vo T NIIH T lB A hm...I Wm U0 vf RHVW 2 s M,

R. BLOMELEY ETAL 2,955,686

oct. 11, 1960 INSULATING STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME Filed July 23, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Ralph Blomeley Harold H.Blome|ey 11m, www ma ATTORNEY Unite States g 2,955,68@ VPatented Oct. 1l, 1966 fire INSU'LATING STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAlVIE Ralph Blomeley and Harold H. Blomeley, Stateny Island, N.Y., assignors to Blomeley Engineering Corporation, Perth Amboy, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed '.Iuly 23, 1957, Ser. No. 673,686

6 Claims. (Cl. 189-3) This invention relatesto an insulating structure especially intended for use in connection with tanks to receive materials of the oil and asphalt type. Also the invention contemplates a method of providing that structure.

By means of the present teachings it Will be feasible to properly associate insulation with a housing such as a tank and to have the insulation remain effective throughout the entire life of the tank.

Moreover, by this invention the protecting and insulating structure will conform properly to the contours of an enclosure such as a tank. Additionally, the structural units necessary to effect this result will be capable of being economically produced in the iield by the use of ordinary hydraulic or hand crimping tools and equipment. Not alone will the completed structure present a neat appearance, but also the insulation units embodied therein will be maintained in proper relationship to the tank surfaces and will not sag or become displaced with respect to the other components of insulation.

With these objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one form of tank with the structure in process of application thereto;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation in somewhat enlarged scale showing a part of the assembly;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 3-3 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional side View taken along the line 4-4 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective View of a detail of the assembly;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a fragment of the structure which may be embodied in the roof section;

Pig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of an alternative form of structure; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 8-8 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 1.

The present teachings may be employed in numerous diiferent associations. They will, however, be of special utility when embodied in a structure involving a tank, such as is commonly employed for the storage of gasoline, fuel oil, chemicals and similar products. The insulating structure may be applied to the tank while the latter is filled with liquid having `a relatively high temperatnre, or in instances where the stored liquid is of a combustible nature such that welding may not be resorted to. So applied, the contents of the tank will be insulated against exterior or atmospheric temperatures. With the foregoing in mind, a form of tank having a ldomed roof section has been generally shown in the drawings. It will be understood that other configurations are contemplated within the scope of the present teachings. Also, theV degree of curvature of the exterior side `walls and roof of the tank might be more or less acute `.than that herein illustrated.

Thus, referring primarily to Fig. 1, the numeral 10 indicates the side wall of a tank provided with a somewhat domed roof 11. This structure may be formed of metal, such as steel. In order to effectively insulate it and itsV contents against outside temperature conditions, both its side walls and the roof should be protected. Various types of insulation may be employed. In many respects it is preferred to utilize a material such as compressed refractory-like products or fiberglass in the form of bats and blankets which may be placed in contact with the critical surfaces of the tank.

While not always essential, it is also preferred in certain installations to employ auxiliary supports. To this end there may be disposed around the tank, at points spaced approximately apart, vertically extending supports such as pipes 12 which are conveniently of relatively small diameter (as on the order of one inch). These standards mount brackets 13 which in any suitable manner are secured against axial movement along the pipes and have outwardly extending portions 14 to provide supports, the purpose of which will be hereinafter brought out. Such auxiliary structures will be especially desirable where a non-welded construction is being used.

According to the present method of procedure, the tank is encircled by straps 15. These are preferably metal and may be formed of steel. If standards such as 12 are employed, then the straps may extend beyond those standards to retain them in contact with the side wall 16', as especially shown in Fig. 3. To properly dispose the straps around the tank wall, the ends of the strap may be coupled to a tensioning apparatus in the nature of a fence stretcher. By this means the straps `are brought to a properly taut condition. This unit may remain in association with the strap ends during the initial steps of procedure.

Those will involve an encircling of the tank by a strap and the tightening of that strap to cause the standards or columns 12 (if used) to be fixed with respect to the tank. Under these circumstances, the straps may overlie or be spaced from the extended portions 14 of the brackets (see Fig. 2). While in this condition, it is preferred to associate with the straps distance pieces. These are conveniently formed of sheet metal and, as illustrated especially in Fig. 5, include rectangular bodies 16 involving base portions 17 of reduced area. These base portions are preferably slitted to furnish tongues 18. The base portions 17 may be inserted to intervene a strap 15 and wall 10. Thereafter, with the distance piece shifted to a point where the upper edge of strap 15 is in contact with the underface of its upper leg, tongues 18 may be bent to encircle the strap. In this manner further movement of the distance piece is prevented.`

It has been found that the straps or bands A15 may be spaced, for example, six to twelve feet from each other in a vertical direction. After the distance pieces are clipped onto the straps they are adjusted to be properly spaced. That spacing may involve, for example, a separation of three or four feet. Thereupon these distance pieces serve to mount supports which preferably take the form of U-shaped channel members. These again are preferably formed-of sheet metal stock having a relatively light gauge.

As especially shown in Figs. 4 and 5, they will include a base portion 19 and side flanges 20. Having in mind that these members are to encircle the tank, it is apparent that their base portions must be curved to extend along yarcs dening a circle concentric with the exterior tank impart 'to a conventional supporting member of this type the desired curvature, while at the same time maintaining the strength of the member. To overcome this difficulty hydraulic or hand equipment of a simple and readily operable nature is provided which will serve to crimp or corrugate the side anges in the manner indicated at 21. The desired curvature could, of course, be achieved by slitting these flanges. This, however, would be at the sacrifice of the rigidity and strength of these units.

The supporting members as defined by the channels are caused to overlie the distance pieces 16. They will be secured to those pieces by screws of the self-tapping type. In this manner it will not be necessary to drill, punch and/or tap either the distance pieces or the supporting members. These screws are either permanent or temporary, in that they may be replaced by screws 32 hereinafter referred to. After the parts are thus secured, such adjusting of the supporting members as may be necessary will be resorted to so that they will form, in effect, continuous annular bands encircling the tank or equivalent structure at properly spaced points. The straps 15 which have been maintained in a proper condition of tension during the application of the distance pieces and their lateral adjustment will at this time have the stretching apparatus detached from them.

To prevent any sagging by maintaining a proper condition of tension there will be substituted for the stretching apparatus calibrated spring tension devices of, for example, the type shown in Fig. 8. This is a preferred form of unit and will involve heads 23 maintained in properly spaced relationship by interposed rods 24. One of these heads will include a coupling 25 for attachment to the adjacent end of a strap 15. The other head will slidably accommodate a sleeve 26 which forms one part of a turnbuckle assembly and has an outer coupling 27 for attachment to the opposite strap end. A compression spring '28 will bear against the latter head and a plate 29, secured to the outer element of the turnbuckle assembly. Thus, by turning the sleeve 26 of that assembly, it is apparent that the tension may be properly adjusted. While the foregoing is in many respects a preferred form of tensioning device, a functionally equivalent unit may be utilized in lieu thereof.

It is obvious that the extended portions 14 of bracket 13 may underlie the annular mounting members. Interposed between the latter and the wall 10 of the tank is insulation as indicated at 30. This insulation will be supported by a member 19 as well as distance pieces 16. In order to protect the insulation, cladding-sheets 31 envelop the entire assembly. These sheets are conveniently formed of plastic material, galvanized iron, aluminum or one of its compounds, Transite, etc. They are of a gauge such that self-tapping screws 32 may readily penetrate them. These screws, in most instances, may replace the screws employed to secure the channels to the distance pieces. Also, the sheets are preferably corrugated with the corrugations extending in a vertical direction. Sheets of this nature are ordinarily supplied in sizes running 4 x l2 feet. They are maintained in position by overlapping each other on both their vertical and horizontal edge zones and by the screws which pass through their bodies and into the base portions 19 of the supporting members. Properly spaced screws may also be provided adjacent their side edges to insure weather tightness.

As will be apparent, with the 4-foot dimension extending horizontally and the supporting members extending in a similar direction, only a series of securing elements, such as screws, adequate for a 4-foot length need be employed in any given course. Therefore, aside from the cost of erection, the heat conductivity between the supporting or channel member 19 and the outer cladding sheet will be minimized. It is to be borne in mind in this connection that the channel member itself is spaced from the adjacent face of the tank by the distance pieces 16. Accordingly, heat will escape by conduction to the channel members only through these distance pieces and the vertical posts or pipes 12, if the latter be used, as in the case of a non-welded system.

As suggested only the upper and lower edges of any given sheet need be secured by screws to the supporting members provided by the channels. ln fact, certain of these horizontal series of screws might be eliminated by a proper overlapping of the sheets 31. Those sheets are, as afore brought out, preferably secured to each other along their overlapping vertically extending edges by rows of screws or other suitable securing elements to prevent the entrance of moisture.

Where a curved surface such as the roof is to have insulation and cladding sheets applied to it, then the same technique as heretofore described may be followed in enclosing that surface. In other words, as shown in Fig. l, longitudinaliy extending supporting members 33 may be disposed in the form of` a radial or parallel series over the top surface 11. rThese members may be identical in construction to the members 19 and will include corrugated side flanges so as to conform to the curved surface of the tank. Also, they may be mounted upon distance pieces 16 supported in any suitable manner upon the surface of the roof 11. intervening these members 33 are sections 34 which in aggregate may furnish an annular series of ringlike units concentrically disposed and spaced from each other. Members 33 and 34, as shown in Fig. 6, may be connected to each other either by brackets 35 or else by terminal tongue portions 36 integral with their bodies and overlapping surfaces of an adjacent member. Conveniently, these parts are secured to each other by self-tapping screws.

Again, by having members 33 and 34 properly spaced with respect to each other, a minimum number of securing screws will have to be employed to mount upper cladding sheets 37 providing the roof; suitable insulation being interposed between the latter and those sheets. Any proper flashing assembly may be furnished to define a suitable line of demarcation between the roof and side wall sections. However, as again shown in Fig. l, an L-shaped flashing member, such as 38, may have its inwardly extending flange 39 crimped and the effective length shortened. In this manner, its base will be curved to define a proper circle adjacent the upper end of the assembly.

Where the contents of the tank make it feasible to do so, welding may preferably be resorted to. This will serve to eliminate the tension members or straps 15 as well as posts 12. A suitable structure in this connection has been shown in Fig. 7, in which a mounting rod 40 has its ends secured by welds to the fact of wall 10 and slidably mounts a distance piece 41 and the channel member 42 mounted thereby so that they will be capable of limited adjustment along its length. Channel member 42, which will correspond to the member 19, will be similarly secured in position by a series of screws 43. It is, of course, apparent that a construction such as suggested in Fig. 7 might also be employed in the roof section of the assembly.

As will be appreciated, by crimping parts of the supporting members so that they are properly deformed to furnish arcuate or circular sections, a procedure exists which may readily be carried forward under eld conditions. No heating will be necessary and precise conformation of the supporting member to the contour of a given surface may ybe effected. The channel members are relatively light and are conveniently formed of galvanized iron strip of l0 gauge or even lighter materials. The cladding sheets are draped or suspended vertically from these supporting members, and these sheets interlock so as to dispose uniformly around the curvature of the tank and provide a strong assembly. With the exterior cladding sheets extending vertically, expansion changes within the tank will readily be compensated for because the corrugated-type sheets only have to be secured to the channel segments along their narrow edges.

While in many respects, in a non-welded structure, it is preferred to employ posts, such as 12, it is of course apparent that a substitute assembly might be employed under which they would be completely eliminated.

Recapitulating as to the procedure followed, if the preferred welding technique (Fi-g. 7) is not used, a temporary assembly is initially furnished by tensioning bands or straps around the tank and over which straps the distance pieces are clipped. The supporting members embracing deformed metal channels conveniently embracing S-foot segments are shaped to the required curvature and are secured to each distance piece with sheet metal screws. Thereupon, the supporting members or channels `are permanently adjusted in place and compensated against expansion and contraction by using the permanent tensioning devices which may take the form shown in Fig. 8. It is to 'be incidentally noted that in each strap four of these devices `are preferably provided at points spaced 90 from each other. Where standards or pipes 12 are employed, the channel segments are additionally reinforced at similar points around the tank. The channels serve as shelf supports for the insulation which is thus adequately prevented from slumping. Finally, with the insulation in place, the channel sections or supports function as mountings against which the cladding sheets can be readily applied, aligned and secured as, for example, by screws 32.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that among others the several objects of the invention, as specifically aforenoted, are achieved. Obviously, changes in construction imight be resorted to and the steps of the meth- 0d might be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

We claim:

1. A-n insulating structure including in combination a housing such as a tank having Va curved side wall, supporting elements spaced one above the other and encircling such wall, a series of distance pieces mounted by each of said elements at a number of points spaced around the circumference of said wall and extending outwardly therefrom, members surrounding each of said series of distance pieces `and secured Ithereto to maintain such members spaced from said wall, the height of said pieces being limited to substantially the width of a member, insulation supported by and between a pair of adjacent members, each of said surrounding members comprising a body U-shaped in section with the base of said body providing the outermost portion Ithereof, said distance pieces projecting into the space between the arms of said body and such ar-ms being shortened `at the effective longitudinal edges thereof and the base of said body curving in a direction conforming to the side wall of the housing.

2. An insulated liquid-receiving vessel comprising in combination `a curved outer wall, a supporting assembly including a number of distance pieces, means for mounting said pieces to extend in a certain plane, radially and outwardly from the wall surface and spaced from each other, ka curved member encircling said Vessel and disposed at the outer end of said distance pieces whereby said member is maintained in spaced relationship with respect to the outer surface of the vessel, a second sup'- porting assembly disposed on the surface of the vessel in a plane different from that of the rst-named assembly, a body of insulating material supported between the members of the different assemblies, cladding sheets overlying said insulating material, means -for securing said sheets, members and distance pieces together to retain the enclosed insulating material against movement with respect to the surface of said vessel, a side flange forming a part of said member `and extending vertically to the surfaces of the vessel Iand the longitudinal edge of said side flange being shortened whereby said member has a curved configuration.

3. An insulating structure including in combination a housing such as a tank having a curved side wall, supporting elements spaced one above the other and encircling such wall, a series of distance pieces mounted by each of said elements at a number of points spaced around the circumference of said wall and extending outwardly therefrom, members surrounding each of said series of distance pieces and secured thereto to maintain such members spaced from said wall, the height of said pieces being limited to substantially the width of a member, insulation supported by and between a pair of adjacent members, each of said surrounding members comprising a body U-shaped in section, with the base of said body providing the outermost portion thereof, said distance pieces projecting into the space between the arms of said body, the effective longitudinal edges of said arms being shortened and the base of said body curving in a direction conforming to the side wall of the housing, `a curved roof forming a part of said housing, further members extending from said side wall across said roof, said further members being U-shaped in section with their base portions extending outwardly from said roof and their arms extending toward the same, and said arms being crimped to shorten the effective longitudinal edges thereof and cause the base portions of said members to extend in conformity with the roof curvature.

4. An insulating structure including in combination, a fluid-housing structure including a curved outer side Wall of heat-conducting material, a plurality of spaced horizontally disposed supporting straps encircling said wall and constricted to bear in face-to-face contact with the outer surface thereof and be supported thereby, an annular series of distance pieces mounted on and extending outwardly from each of said straps at a number of points spaced about the circumference of said wall, a band-shaped support encircling each of said series of distance pieces to maintain said support spaced from said wall, each of said supports being secured at circumferentially spaced points to one of the annular series of distance pieces, each of said supports including an inwardly extending part and a part concentrically disposed with respect to said side wall, the width of said inwardly extending part being less than the height of the distance pieces whereby the latter maintain all parts of said support spaced from said side wall, insulating material resting upon Vand extending above each support in contact with the adjacent wall surface, each of said encircling band-shaped supports having a body U-shaped in cross section with the base of said body providing the outermost portion thereof, the effective longitudinal edges of said supports being shortened and the base of said body curving in `a direction to conform to the side wall of the housing, cladding sheets overlying and secured to said supports ywith said supports bearing against the outer faces of the latter.

5. In the combination as defined in claim 4, means forming parts of said distance pieces detachably coupling them with a supporting strap while the latter is in position enclircling said wall and said distance pieces being slidable longitudinally of said strap.

6. In the combination as defined in claim 4, each said distance piece comprising a substantially rectangular body embracing an outer surface, a side surface and a base surface, and the -area of said base surface being reduced to minimize heat conduction between any of said supports and said side wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 778,679 Kirch Dec. 27, 1904 1,063,514 Detwiler June 3, 1913 1,558,217 Baldlwin Oct. 20, 1925 1,674,842 Sparks June 26, 1928 1,675,354 Kemper July 3, 1928 2,323,297 lCollins July 6, 1943 2,746,578 Blomeley May 22, 1956 

